Dolan outspent rival by $70,000

Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan outspent his opponent, Gary T. Forbush, by more than $70,000 on his way to a fourth term in this year's municipal elections.

Dolan raised more than $90,000 and spent $88,000; Forbush, who was running his first political campaign, raised $17,000 and spent $16,000. In other words, Dolan paid roughly $8.09 per vote he received, and Forbush spent approximately $1.68 per vote, according to the final financial statements of the election filed Thursday by candidates.

The Sandy mayor, who has held the post since 1994 and has said that this is his last term in office, had the closest race of his political career. He bested Forbush by 6 percentage points or 1,260 votes.

"I wish I had spent more because I thought it was too close," Dolan said. "It's half of what I spent the last time I ran."

Dolan's largest expense in the month before the Nov. 8 general election was $29,560 to W Communications for campaign ads and Web site maintenance. The same firm created advertising and ran public relations for the Boyer Co. in its successful bid to convince Sandy voters to allow big-box development at a former gravel pit in Sandy.

Forbush's biggest bill came the day after the election from Dave Dickson, who provided in-kind labor for about $3,500. Forbush's other expenses primarily were advertising, sign supplies and labor for flier distribution.

In the at-large city council race, winner Steve Smith spent less than his opponent, Max Burdick. Smith raised and spent $21,600, and Burdick pulled in $33,000 and spent $31,800. Bryant Anderson spent $4,500 on his way to re-election in council District 3; his challenger, Brigitte Dawson, spent $1,900.

Incumbent Murray Mayor Dan Snarr raised roughly $27,000 more than his opponent, Dave Wilde. Snarr spent $27,000 of that money, and Wilde spent $16,000 of the $17,000 he raised. Snarr beat Wilde by 14 percentage points, or 1,052 votes. That meant Snarr spent $5.98 per vote, and Wilde spent $4.61 per vote.

Snarr's largest expense in the month before the election was a direct mail flier costing $5,100. Wilde also spent several thousand dollars on mailings, advertising and signs.

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E-mail: kswinyard@desnews.com